BY RAMPADOR ALINDOG
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BELA Padilla took to social media recently to denounce the seemingly all-too violent manner by which a ranking police officer admonished a Quiapo resident simply because he supposedly violated rules relating the ongoing enhanced community quarantine.
In the widely circulated video of the incident as taken by DZMM reporter Zhander Cayabyab, the police officer, who has been identified since as Lt. Col. Rey Magdaluyo, chief of police of the Sta. Cruz, Manila police station, is heard threatening people thus: “Lahat ng lalabas nang wala [sa] oras mababaril!”
He then went on to accost an unidentified man, hitting him several times with a stick.
Magdaluyo is heard saying, “T **** -ina mo, matigas ulo mo! Umuwi ka! Akala nyo passes iyang quarantine pass?!”
The video earned mixed reactions from netizens. Some say the policeman was in the right given how some individuals have been supposedly ignoring rules relating to the ongoing enhanced community quarantine.
There are others who believe he may have been too severe.
Said one, “I’m sure kung si [Senator Koko] Pimentel yan hindi niya magagawa yan.”
Pimentel was caught violating hospital protocols recently, earning the ire of netizens.
He has apologized but many are still asking for his resignation.
In any case, Magdaluyo justified his action saying he had to resort to violence given the number of supposed repeat offenders from the area. Bela is not moved.
She twitted, “Is this our new normal? Nasan po yung ‘compassion’?”
She added, “Madami po talagang pasaway. But violence is not the answer. It doesn’t only hurt physically but it also strips off a person’s dignity.”
She went on, “Sa panahon ngayon LAHAT TAYO kelangan habaan ang pasensya…”
The incident is now under investigation, according to Manila Police District Director Brig. Gen. Rolando Miranda.
